WALK MS: 2013 PARTICIPANT & TEAM CAPTAIN GUIDE

18 Pages·2013·9.91 MB·English

WALK MS: 2013
PARTICIPANT & TEAM CAPTAIN GUIDE
walk to
WALK TO CREATE A WORLD FREE OF MS
create a world
free of MS walk4MS.org or 1-800-883-WALK
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BE INSPIRED. GET CONNECTED. WALK MS.
Welcome to Walk MS: 2013. ........................................................................................................................... 2-3
A World Free of Multiple Sclerosis. ....................................................................................................................4
Where Does the Money Go? ............................................................................................................................. 5
Why We Participate in Walk MS. ........................................................................................................................6
Join the Movement® & Team Up ..............................................................................................................................................................6
Moving Together: Three Simple Steps to Starting a Team ................................................................................................................7
Order Your Customizable Team T-shirts .................................................................................................................................................7
Goal Setting: Who has the Most Team Spirit ........................................................................................................................................8
Goal Setting Worksheet ..............................................................................................................................................................................8
Walk MS Fundraising Clubs .......................................................................................................................................................................10
Team Awards ................................................................................................................................................................................................10
Prizes ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................11
Top Walk MS 2012: Teams .........................................................................................................................................................................12
Online Tools: Making Fundraising Fast & Simple .................................................................................................................................13
Fundraising Tips & Ideas ............................................................................................................................................................................14
Social Media ..................................................................................................................................................................................................15
Commonly Asked Questions ....................................................................................................................................................................16
1 | Participant & Team Captain Guide
WELCOME TO WALK MS: 2013
AS A WALK MS PARTICIPANT OR TEAM CAPTAIN, YOU ARE JOINING
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY
It is an experience like no other. This guide will provide some great tips for fundraising, help you stay motivated, and
get your team organized.
Walk with us — Walk MS: 2013
Sunday, April 21:
Elmwood Park Zoo – Norristown, Pa.
East Goshen Township Park – West Chester, Pa.
Gring’s Mill – Reading, Pa.
Lenape Park – Sellersville, Pa.
Ridley Creek State Park – Media, Pa.
Tyler State Park – Newtown, Pa.
Saturday, May 4:
Philadelphia Museum of Art – Philadelphia, Pa.
Sunday, May 5:
Coca-Cola Park – Allentown, Pa.
Devon Horse Show & Country Fair – Devon, Pa.
Medford Lakes – Medford Lakes, N.J.
North Penn High School – Lansdale, Pa.
Ocean City Boardwalk – Ocean City, N.J.
Pocono Raceway – Long Pond, Pa.
Washington Lake Park – Washington Twp., N.J.
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WELCOME TO WALK MS: 2013
Team captains, don’t forget about these important dates:
Team Captain Celebration Week: January 7-11
National Team Week: Team that recruits the most team members wins an exclusive prize! February 11-15
MS Awareness Week & National Fundraising Week: Team that raises the most wins an exclusive prize! March 11-15
National Fundraising Week 2: Team that raises the most wins an exclusive prize! April 1-5
Fundraising deadline: May 31. Those who raise $250 or more by this date are eligible for great prizes through our on-
line prize redemption company.
For more information, visit walk4MS.org or call 1-800-883-WALK.
3 | Participant & Team Captain Guide
A WORLD FREE OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
ABOUT MS
Multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system, interrupts the flow of information
within the brain, and between the brain and body. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and
paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances
in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the
ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects
more than 400,000 people in the U.S. and over 2.1 million worldwide. In the Greater Delaware Valley, more than 14,000
local families are affected by MS.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL MS SOCIETY
MS stops people from moving. The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn’t. The Society addresses the challenges of
each person affected by MS by funding cutting-edge research, driving change through advocacy, facilitating professional
education, collaborating with MS organizations around the world, and providing programs and services designed to
help people with MS and their families move forward with their lives. In 2010 alone, through its national office and
50-state network of chapters, the Society devoted $159 million to programs and services that assisted more than one
million people. To move us closer to a world free of MS, the Society also invested $37 million to support 325 new and
ongoing research projects around the world.
The Society is dedicated to achieving a world free of MS. Early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can
make a difference for people with multiple sclerosis. Learn about your options by talking to your health care professional
and contacting the National MS Society at nationalMSsociety.org or 1-800-FIGHT-MS (1-800-344-4867).
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WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?
YOUR FUNDRAISING MATTERS
The National MS Society helps people affected by MS by funding cutting-edge research, driving change through
advocacy, facilitating professional education and providing programs and services to help people with MS and their
families move their lives forward.
Since its charter in 1954, the Greater Delaware Valley Chapter has been in the forefront of providing programs and
services for people with MS and those who care for them.
We serve 14,000 clients and their families in 18 counties in southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey.
Clients turn to us for services including home health assistance, respite care, physical and occupational therapy,
transportation to medical appointments, employment services, educational programs and more.
The Greater Delaware Valley Chapter appreciates the generosity of its donors and takes every step possible to ensure
that funds are used responsibly and effectively as we work to create a world free of MS.
EXPENDITURES
With lower than average administrative and fundraising costs, the National MS Society is committed to ensuring that
the maximum amount of money raised funds groundbreaking research and provides direct services for local people
living with MS.
80%
Programs/Education/Research
20%
Fundraising/Administration
5 | Participant & Team Captain Guide
WHY WE PARTICIPATE IN WALK MS
“The most fun part of the event is being surrounded by “It is all about being with my friends, family and supporting
my friends and family. Being able to see and feel their a great cause. It is a chance for us to get together and do
support.” good as a family.”
“The walk is a celebration for me every year. I celebrate “I just love being there and seeing all the love and support
what I can do physically but also for the community as from everyone! It’s a good feeling to see that people
a whole. I look forward to spending time with friends really do care, and that with their help, we will find a cure!”
and family on this day and seeing my other friends with MS.”
JOIN THE MOVEMENT® & TEAM UP
Nearly 75 percent of walkers in Walk MS participate as part of a team.
WHY FORM A TEAM?
Because joining the movement is more fun with others around! Plus, you can earn some really great prizes, including
a tent for your team at the event.
FORMING A TEAM IS EASY
Designate a team captain, make up a fun team name, and when you register online for Walk MS, choose the option
to “create a new team.” Already registered, but want to start a team? Contact us at 1-800-883-WALK or email
[email protected].
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MOVING TOGETHER: THREE SIMPLE
STEPS TO STARTING A TEAM
You and your team are committed to a world free of MS. We’re committed to you and the success of your team.
RECRUITING
Team members can be anybody — friends, family, coworkers, or neighbors — and they can all easily register as walkers
online at walk4MS.org. Whether you’re a corporate team or a team of family and friends, just be sure to ask everyone
you know.
RAISING MONEY
Fundraising comes more naturally when you make it personal. If your team is walking for someone with MS, ask them if
they would be willing to tell their story. Be sure to follow that with a statement about how much progress we’ve made
in treating the disease.
Don’t forget to ask everyone who sponsors you if their employer offers matching gifts!
HAVE FUN
Being a team captain is an opportunity to share a great experience with friends and family members, or coworkers — a
community coming together for a common goal and the accomplishment of a unique personal challenge! As a leader,
it’s up to you to remind your teammates of why they registered. Walk MS can be more than a fundraising event — it can
be a joyous celebration of how far we’ve come together!
ORDER YOUR CUSTOMIZABLE TEAM T-SHIRTS
You’ve recruited them and raised money with them. Now celebrate in style with them! New this year, order your
customizable Walk MS team t-shirt. Choose your color, font, insert your team logo and sponsors and you’re all set! Visit
the team info page at walk4MS.org for more details.
7 | Participant & Team Captain Guide
GOAL SETTING:
WHO HAS THE MOST TEAM SPIRIT?
Establishing a goal is an easy way to maintain motivation as well as give you and your team a benchmark for success.
We encourage team captains to set goals for themselves and their teams.
KEEP THESE TIPS IN MIND:
o Goals should be realistic, but significant — If it requires hard work to attain, it will be a source of more pride for
your team.
o Set a goal with input from the team — Having them believe in the goal from the start will make your job as team
captain that much easier.
o Set both personal and team fundraising goals — Lead by example. Share your personal fundraising goal with your team.
o Set a goal for team size as well as collective fundraising — Recruiting more team members can mean more
substantial fundraising!
o Share your goal! Use e-mail, team pages, and even internal company intranets and newsetters to communicate
goals — and how close your team is to attaining them.
o If you are part of a large corporate team, have departments set their own goals to create some fun internal competition.
o Team captains, use the goal setting worksheet found on the next page to help you determine your team goal.
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Team Captain Goal-Setting Worksheet
2012
Team:
Captain:
Co-Captains:
When setting your team goals, look back at your team’s performance last year (if applicable).
The average walker raises more than $200.
Previous Year’s Results: 2. Customize team Web page at
Walk4MS.org
Number of team members: Due date:
Dollars raised: $ 3. Team kick-off announcement to all
previous members/company employees
Your team member average: $
Due date:
(dollars raised divided by number of team members)
4. Recruitment activities
This Year’s Goals:
ACTIVITY DATE GOAL
Number of team members:
(20% increase = number of previous year walkers x 1.2)

Minimum goal: $

(team member goal x previous team member average)

Suggested goal: $
(team member goal x $200 Walk MS average)
5. Fundraising activities
ACTIVITY DATE GOAL
This Year’s Team Goal:

Strategic Plan (Check when completed)

1. Appoint co-team captains
Due date:
Ideas of who to ask:
1. 6. Email to all team members announcing
goals and activities
2.
Due date:
3.
7. Thank you note to all team members
Due date: